The Golden Hustla Read online

  “I’m here, Alexis,” she replied, her voice beginning to fill with defeat.

  “Well talk some sense into that head of your husband’s.” Nina was beginning to yell, in an attempt to get her point across. “You guys”—she paused to let her point hang out there—“I honestly don’t understand where all the skepticism is coming from. I just don’t.” Nina tried to sound as if she was insulted.

  “Alexis,” Ed said. She didn’t respond.

  “Alexis, are you there?” Carol checked, but Nina said nothing. “Where did she go, Ed? Alexis? You don’t think she hung up, do you?” Carol was getting nervous.

  “How the hell should I know?” Ed was whispering into the phone to his wife. “I don’t hear a dial tone. Alexis, are you still there?”

  “Do you think she’s angry with us?” Carol too was now whispering.

  “Angry? I didn’t do anything,” Ed countered. Nina was listening to both of them go at it.

  “You insulted her. She’s only trying to help us. Maybe we should give her the fifty thousand.”

  “Maybe nothing. We already gave her two hundred and thirty thousand dollars.”

  “Invested,” Carol interrupted. “Not gave.” They were both still whispering.

  “Invested. Gave. It doesn’t matter, it still has been two hundred and thirty thousand and we only got about twenty-five thousand in gold.”

  Nina decided that she had heard enough. Enough to know how to close this deal. “Sorry, guys, are you still there?” Nina’s voice boomed through the line.

  “Yes, we’re still here, Alexis,” Carol assured her, sounding relieved.

  “Where did you go?” Ed wanted to know. “We thought you hung up.”

  “I apologize. This is one hell of a phase WMM is now in. And I’m going to give you a tip.” They both were on the edge of their seats. “If you guys back out now, you’ll be the laughing stock of the company as well as with the other participants. This is really big, guys.”

  “Alexis. We understand, but you don’t understand where we are coming from. We’ve already invested two hundred and thirty thousand dollars,” Ed said.

  “You’re absolutely correct. I don’t understand how you could invest two hundred and thirty thousand dollars and now quit. Where’s the logic behind that? Stop at two-thirty or invest fifty? Lose the two-thirty or invest another fifty? You guys are scaring me. Have you been drinking this morning or out partying all night? I’m worried about you two. Maybe I should call back tomorrow. Let me put you on hold while I consult with one of the owners. Both of whom happen to be in the office today for this special promotion. Let me figure out how to explain that one of the top contenders are ready to bail out over a measly fifty thousand dollars and that they already invested two hundred and thirty thousand. When I explain that to them I hope they won’t disqualify you.”

  “Oh, noooo!” Carol shrieked.

  “Wait, Alexis,” Ed chimed in.

  “Wait for what, guys? I need to put you on hold. I need a consultation. You guys are obviously not in your right frame of mind.”

  “Alexis, we’re just concerned, that’s all. You realize that $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at. We’re retired,” Ed pleaded.

  “That’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m hanging up.”

  “No. No, wait!” Carol begged. “We’re not drunk. We’re in our right frame of minds.”

  “Of course we are not drunk,” Ed stated indignantly. “Just give us some time to decide.”

  “Time? We’ve been on this phone now for twenty-five minutes. You realize how many other contenders wish they were in your position?” Nina chastised them. “And you need time to decide? They are hoping that you back out. More for them.”

  “Oh my!” Carol gasped.

  “How many others are there?” Ed’s greed was getting the best of him. Nina was just about convinced that Ed was the biggest gambler of the two.

  “On your level? Not many. But it doesn’t matter, does it?”

  “Yes. Oh yeees. It does,” Carol chimed in, sounding as if she was on the brink of an orgasm.

  “This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to see if I can find out how many others are on your level. I’m going to put you on hold, and when I come back, you need to tell me whether you guys are in or out. Now you aren’t drunk, are you?”

  “No. We are not,” Ed assured her.

  “Good. I could get in trouble if your judgment is impaired while we are trying to handle this serious matter. You need to make up your minds. I have to go down the hall. I should be back in ten minutes.”

  “Okay, Alexis. We’ll be here.” That was Carol and she sounded as if she was exasperated.

  Nina took the headphones off and pressed the hold button, activating the smooth sounds of the day. Stepping out into the hallway, she saw that Milt’s door was cracked so she peeked in. He was just sitting there looking over sales sheets.

  “You got a sale?” she asked him while easing into the chair facing his desk.

  “Not yet. Crazy Emma said she’s going to the bank, but you know I can’t count that.” He started mocking her in an old lady’s voice. “ ‘Mr. Bank Manager, I need a cashier’s check for ten thousand dollars.’ And I can hear Mr. Bank Manager saying, ‘Wait right here while I call your daughter!’ ”

  “Damn, Milt. You better get your ass on that phone and call somebody else.” Nina couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You got a sale?” he asked.

  “I got the Bartzes on hold. They were bitching at first, but I believe I broke them down.”

  “I hear you! How much?”

  “Fifty thou.”

  “I heard that.” Milt held his fist out to give her a fist bump.

  “Yeah, it’s Friday and I’m glad to get away from the offices of WMM.”

  “What you and your ole man gonna do this weekend?” He wanted to know.

  “He wants me to go to some party.”

  “Oh, yeah? You’re going? You don’t sound too enthused.”

  “Hell no. I’m hanging out with the ladies tonight. Plus, I haven’t seen him in a while. He hasn’t been coming around like he used to. I just call him when I need some maintenance.”

  “Girl, you need to find you a husband.”

  “Milt, don’t start with that. Is Shawn outta Rinaldo’s office yet? I can’t wait to get the four-one-one.” Shortly after those words left her mouth, Rinaldo barged into Milt’s office.

  “Alexis and Martin Luther! Lunchtime was hours ago. Why aren’t y’all on the phones?”

  Nina stood up. “I was just leaving. I got the Bartzes on hold.”

  He stood over Milt’s desk. “Get on the phone, last place.” He used last place as a nickname for Milt. “You got a sale yet?” he asked him.

  “I’m working on it,” Milt assured him, as he shuffled his papers around.

  “Well work harder.” He backed out of his office, slamming the door.

  “Alexis, are they going or what?” Rinaldo asked, referring to the Bartzes sending the check.

  “How come you call me by my phone name and nobody else?”

  “Them lazy bums don’t deserve to be called by their phone names. Are the Bartzes going or what?”

  “Yeah.” Nina sat down and placed the headphones on her head.

  “How much?”

  “Fifty.”

  “All righty!” He raised his hand up to high-five her. “At least somebody’s working.”

  “Can you close my door?” She left his hand hanging as she hinted for him to get out of her office.

  Ladies Night…

  Rochelle pulled up to Nina’s at ten p.m. in Rinaldo’s Hummer. Nina sashayed down the steps and jumped in the front seat. “Why did he have to get gold? No, wait. I don’t even know why I asked that dumb question. Gold coins.”

  “Girl, you know he likes to floss and make sure everyone knows he’s the shit. Later for him. But girl, you look fierce. You gonna be stoppin’ niggas in their tracks tonight,” Rochelle
complimented Nina, who had on a simple Derek Lam hookup. A black blouse with a hot red wraparound miniskirt. On her feet were a pair of red Jimmy Choo stilettos.

  “Girl, look at you.” When Nina gave Rochelle the once-over she didn’t know what to say. She was so used to seeing her in suits, but tonight she had on Balenciaga from top to bottom. She knew she saw that shit in a Vogue magazine. “I don’t even know what to say.”

  “Say, ‘Velvet Room, here we come’. And I hope you ready to party because a bitch is about to let her hair all the way down,” Rochelle said with a devious smile on her face.

  “Oh shit. That’s where we going?” Nina asked in excitement.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Aiight then. Velvet Room, here we come!”

  They pulled off, heading for the infamous and upscale Velvet Room. She knew that it was supposed to be one of Atlanta’s hottest spots. Nina knew that the athletes and hip-hop stars frequently partied there and hosted special events like birthday celebrations and album release parties. So it was on tonight. When they pulled up as anticipated, the scene was jumping. There was a line but it wasn’t too long. But there were many cars pulling into the parking lot. Rochelle was trying to make her way to a parking spot but people were walking all in the street, making it almost impossible to get from one end of the street to the next. Finally Rochelle got the Hummer parked and they headed towards the entrance. The minute they stepped out of the truck, they noticed that bitches were looking them up and down. Nina guessed they would really have an attitude when they realized that they would not be waiting on line with them. Rochelle had pull with the owner so they walked right past the haters and straight up to security. She whispered in the guard’s ear and, just like that, proceeded through the velvet ropes.

  This was Nina’s first time inside the club. She was surprised to see that it was one humongous red velvet room decorated with stunning glass chandeliers. As her stilettos took her across the dance floor, she looked down. She had heard that it was the only liquid nitrogen dance floor in the dirty South. Whatever that meant. It must have meant something because she noticed guys in black and white on point, ready to wipe up any spill or mishap. Impressive.

  “Mr. Michael Vick to your left, Rochelle.” Nina nudged her partner for the evening.

  “Petey Pablo to your right,” Rochelle teased and nudged Nina right back.

  “Who?”

  “Don’t even try it. Petey muthafuckin’ Pablo.” They both started laughing.

  The sound system and lighting were crazy. Nina was definitely ready to get her party on. There were huge plasma screens all over the place.

  “Can I get you ladies a drink?” a good-looking, brown-skinned young brother asked. He was standing at one of the bars with his partner and introduced himself as Vince. His partner said his name was Dante.

  Nina and Rochelle looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Sure.” They introduced themselves and, while they all stood there, Nina and Rochelle noticed that there were several bars with plenty of arm space for standing there and people watching or catching an eye, and there were also multiple VIP tables with nice off-the-floor or over-the-floor views where they could see or be seen. “We gotta get over there in VIP before the night is over,” Rochelle whispered.

  “I’m down,” Nina said back.

  After the drinks started to kick in, the four of them couldn’t help but submit to the music. Vince paired up with Nina, Dante with Rochelle, and they danced nonstop for almost an hour. Nina had not danced like this since she had hung out with Reese.

  She and Rochelle were dancing back to back. “Gurll, let’s take a bathroom break,” Rochelle leaned into Nina and yelled over the music.

  “One more song!” Nina yelled back.

  After Drake and Lil Wayne stopped vibrating, Rochelle grabbed Nina’s hand and yanked her off the floor.

  “Be right back,” she said to Vince. The guys took off for the bar.

  “Girl, I gotta rest my feet,” Rochelle confessed as they reached the ladies’ room and she rushed for the next open stall.

  “So do I,” Nina agreed as she admired herself in the mirror. “Did you see Mystical out there?”

  “Mystical? Who is that?”

  “Rochelle, you don’t get out much, do you? You know who Petey Pablo is but not Mystical?”

  Rochelle barged out of the stall and Nina went in. “The fuck I don’t! I just don’t know who the fuck Mystical is,” she admitted with a straight face as she stood in the mirror getting her fine on.

  Everyone in the bathroom started laughing. Nina could only shake her head in embarrassment.

  “I see that smirk on your face. Hurry up. We gonna go find us a table far away from Vince and Dante so we could do the girls’ night out thing,” Rochelle said.

  “What’s the girls’ night out thing?”

  “You don’t know?” Rochelle shrieked. “Get drunk, flirt and talk shit.”

  Nina could only laugh. She had no clue that Rochelle was this down-to-earth and so ghetto. They headed out of the bathroom in search of a table. The DJ was introducing a special guest performance by the duo Dirty Money. “Oh shit, it’s getting ready to get crunk up in the Velvet Room.” Nina was ready to get close up on the live performance but the desperate male groupies in the house along with Rochelle grabbing her arm were not allowing that to happen.

  Rochelle spotted an empty table and guided Nina over to it before someone else got it. “I know you ain’t tired already?” Nina teased. “I wanted to see Dirty Money perform up close.”

  “I thought we agreed to get our girls’ night out thing on,” Rochelle said as she slid into the booth and immediately took out her cell and started scrolling through her text messages.

  “Rinaldo blowin’ you up?”

  “Fuck Rinaldo. I am not thinking about him right now. My side piece is who I’m trying to see.” She looked at Nina and saw the surprised look on her face. “What? You thought I was some dumb bitch, didn’t you? Hell to the nah. I have my own agenda.”

  Just then the waitress brought over two more drinks. “Compliments of the gentlemen over there.” She pointed behind her.

  Nina and Rochelle looked over to where she was pointing. Vince and Dante raised their drinks up for a toast.

  “Oh shit. Don’t tell me we are going to be joined at the hip with them two stalkers for the rest of the night,” Nina groaned.

  “That is exactly what it looks like.”

  “Sooooo… Mrs. Rochelle. Let me get back to you. Don’t you have a good thing? Why fuck it up? I mean, Rinaldo’s the ultimate asshole but it’s like being a hustler’s wife. You put up with the bullshit to live the lifestyle. You don’t fuck that up. You ride that shit until the wheels fall off.”

  “Nina, the wheels are wobbling. The lug nuts or whatever you call them are loose. I mean, I thought this was different but you hit the analogy right on the head. I ain’t no more than a hustler’s wife. And we both know that that shit don’t last forever. The only advice I can give you is watch your back and I hope you have been building your nest egg.” When Nina didn’t respond she said, “Nina, I hope you haven’t been falling for his spend, spend, spend mentality.”

  “Well… yes and no,” Nina said before being interrupted by Dante and Vince. They dragged them back onto the dance floor.

  “We will continue this conversation,” Rochelle yelled over the music.

  By two thirty they both were past tipsy and had agreed that it was time to go. Especially since they didn’t have a designated driver. Their stalkers for the night walked them to the parking lot and they gave them their numbers and made sure they were safe inside their ride. Nina told Rochelle she owed her another girls’ night out, since they actually didn’t have one, and the next one would be without them having to be glued to the hip with the same two dudes. She told Rochelle she wanted to dance with everybody.

  “How the hell you going to dance with everybody? Girl, you are drunk. Let me get your ass ho
me,” Rochelle said while her phone vibrated. When she saw who it was she said, “Let me take this out here.”

  “Handle your business,” Nina told her as she watched Rochelle get out of the Hummer to talk in private and then immediately began whispering and giggling. Nina cracked both windows in an attempt to hear what was going on when she spotted, a few cars down, a brother with dreads giving a not so subtle beat-down to a dude who was leaning against a motorcycle. It must have been his because he was more into protecting the motorcycle than he was into protecting his face from the blows. Nina rolled her window all the way down.

  “I swear, man. I’ma get that for you. Just give me a couple of more days,” the dude whined like a bitch.

  “Yeah, aiight, you got that, my nigga. But only because I want you to spread the word that I’m that nigga. I’m King Muthafucka. You got that?”

  “I got it.”

  King punched him again. “Wrong answer, nigga.”

  “I got that, Mr. King. I got it.”

  Nina smiled. King turned her on. Now, that was her kind of man. You don’t fuck with niggas like that. You fuck niggas like that. She watched his swag as the King kicked the bike over anyway and disappeared into the darkness.

  Now that nigga was intriguing. Was it in the power and command of his voice? Or the way he gave that nigga the beat-down? All Nina knew was that he was someone she needed to meet and get between the sheets.

  Rochelle finally jumped back into the Hummer.

  “We gotta come back here next weekend. You owe me,” Nina told her.

  “I was hoping that we went somewhere else. I thought you wanted to dance with everybody?” Rochelle started laughing.

  Nina started to laugh along with her. “Yeah, everybody right here in the Velvet Room. Let’s go.” Nina thought to herself, Fuck a dance with everybody. I’m on the prowl for that nigga with the dreads. The King.

  As soon as Shawn pulled into the parking lot of the Waffle House and turned the engine off he lit a blunt. He looked at his Presidential Rolex and saw that he had time. It was damn near four in the morning and in a few hours he was going to politic at breakfast with some magazine distributors. He just about had everything in place. He looked up when he saw the gold Hummer pull up in front of him. He put the blunt out and got out. He leaned up against his Benz as she talked on the phone.